Modular indicator board



June 6, 1967 c. GUTH MODULAR INDICATOR BOARD Filed May 24, 1.965

INVENTOR CHESTER K. GUTH ATTORNEY United States Patent O 3,323,485MQDULAR INDICATOR BOARD Chester K. Gnth, St. Petersburg, Fia., assignerto @ravisual Company, Incorporated, St. Petersburg, Fia., a corporationor Florida Filed May 24, 1965, Ser. No. 457,974 3 Claims. (Cl. 116-134)The present invention relates to an indica-tor board r panel havingalternately positionable indicators thereon which may be manipulated toselectively display a distinctive signal which cooperates with subjectmatter appearing on the -board to record or indicate certain conditionsor information.

lt is frequently desirable to provide a board or panel which can bedisplayed for indicating certain conditlons or events which may changefrom time to time and the indicating medium can be readily altered tomaintam correct information or records. Boards of the charactermentioned generally have printed matter in one or more lines followed inline by one or more indicator means which can be set in alternativeindicating positions, and in many instances printed subject matter mayappear at the top of vertical columns in which the indicator means arealso aligned. IBecause such indicator boards have utility in a widevariety of situations the numbers and arrangements of the individualindicator units for different boards vary widely and assembly thereofhas heretofore been relatively complicated and inconvenient.

The principal object of the present invention is the provision of a newand improved indicator unit which can be conveniently assembled with amultiplicity of like units to form appropriate indicator sections Vofindicator boards or panel of many different sizes and arrangements andin which the units may be arranged in lines of columns opposite or underappropriate printed subject matter, the units being readily manipulatedto alternative indicating conditions. Thus, indicator boards may beassembled from like units to accommodate widely varying requirementswith a minimum of work and skill in assembly thereof.

A more specific object of the present invention is the provision of animproved indicator unit comprising a body having a rectangular face inwhich an opening is formed by which a distinctive colored flange `orflag can be selectively displayed, which flange is shiftable into andout of its display position by an operating member projecting from theplane of the face of the unit, the body also having top, bottom andsides with interlocking means by which a multiplicity of like uni-ts canbe readily assembled and locked together to form a rectangular displaypanel or board in which the faces of the individual units form the faceof the board and are positioned in lines and columns.

A further object of the invention is provision of an indicator unit ofthe character mentioned comprising a hollow body having a rectangularfront face provided with an opening therein extending transverselythereof from one edge to the other and having its long edges spaced fromthe other two edges to form panels and through which an end portion of atoggle member pivoted inside the body is movable between positions atthe opposite long edges of the opening and which member is retained inone position or the other by an overcenter spring, the toggle memberhaving ange or Hag portions projecting from opposite sides thereof whichare colored distinctively and alternatively register with the opening inthe front face of the unit so that one color or the other will appear inthe opening according to the position of the toggle member while theother tiag is `behind a wall panel.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent `from thefollowing description of a preferred form thereof, reference being madeto the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational View of a register board for a doctorsoice, the board of the register comprising a plurality of indicatorunits embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of a plurality 4of the indicatorunits forming a portion of the indicator board;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of one of the indicator units;

FIG. 4 is a View of an indicator unit taken along line 4--4 of FIG. 2,but on a larger scale;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line S-S of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6 6 :of FIG. 1, but on alarger scale.

Referring to the drawings, ya doctors attendance register board 1t)embodying the invention is shown and it comprises a panel 11, the edgesof which are enclosed by a frame 12, and which may be attached to awall, not shown, or otherwise supported for display, as desired. Thepanel 11 includes the names of the doctors arranged in a column at the-left side of the panel and the notations In, A.M. and F.M. are in aline at the right hand side of the panel. It will be appreciated. thatthe invention could be similarly employed for providing indicator panelsfor many types of information other than that shown. Nine indicatorunits 13 are positioned at the right hand side of the panel and arearranged so that three units are in line with each doctors name and theunits opposite each name are in columns beneath the lln, A.M. and F.M.notations, respectively.

Referring more particularly to the individual indicator r units 13, eachunit comprises a box-like or hollow cube shaped body which -may beformed of any suitable material, such as a molded resin, wood7 plasticor metal, and includes a front wall or face 13a which is preferablysquare and which has a rectangular opening or window 13b in the centralportion thereof which extends substantially entirely across the wall andthe opposite elongated edges kare spaced from the parallel edges of thewall to form wall panels at opposite sides of the opening which areslightly larger than the area of the opening.

A at, U-shaped indicator member 14, has the ends of the two parallellegs thereof pivotalljy supported on Iopposite side walls 13C and 13d ofthe unit by pins 14a attached thereto and supported in openings in theside walls. The unpivoted end or yoke of indicator member 14 projectsthrough the window 13b and provides a wide, convenient linger tab 14bwhich extends beyond the front face 13a of the unit for readymanipulation of the indicator member. Means are provided for retainingthe member 14 against whichever edge of the opening 13b it is moved andcomprises a tension spring 15, one end of which is anchored to an eye 17formed on the rear wall 13e of the unit, and the opposite end of whichis hooked in an opening through the yoke of the indicator member. Itwill be seen that spring 15 is positioned so that its center of Vforcewill lie on one side or the other of the centerline of the toggle memberwhen the member is against the top or bottom edges of the opening 13band will urge the end 14h to either the top or bottom edge thereof,depending upon its positioning by an operator. Two rectangular anges orliags 18, 19 are formed integral with the member 14 and project from thetop and bottom thereof respectively and substantially completelyregister with the window 13b when the indicator member is in its lowerand upper positions, respectively, as may be seen 'by referring to FIG.4. The flags are disposed at an angle to the indicator proper such thatthey extend parallel to the front wall 13a when they are positioned inregistration with the window. When one iiag is in registration with thewindow 13b the other `is out of view behind the front wall panel at oneside or the other of the window, as the case may be.

In the preferred form of the invention the front surface of unit wall13a is preferably coated with a material suitable for chalk marking andthe indicator panel 19 has its outer surface treated in the same manner.In the present instance, the panel 19 has a covering which is of thesame color and material as the coating on the front of wall 13a. Thefront of panel 18 has a coating 18a which is a distinctively differentcolor than panel 19 whereby when the member 14 is in its raised positionthe panel 19 appears in the opening 13b and is practicallyindistinguishable from the surface to the front face 13a. When member 14is in the lowered position, as indicated in FIG. 4, surface 18a appearsin the opening 13b and displays a distinctive color relative to the face13a. As an example, the faces 13a and flag 19 may be of a dark greencolor and panel 18 a bright yellow. Additionally, chalk notations may bemade on the faces of the units and flags 19, if desired.

To permit units 13 to be readily assembled into a board, the top wall ofeach unit has a pair of spaced locating pins 20 projecting therefrom anda similar pair of pins 21 project from the side wall 13e thereof. Thebottom wall 13j has a pair of circular openings 22 which are spacedapart the same distance as the pins 20 and are of a diameter to closelyreceive the pins 20 of another like unit 13. Side wall 13d has a pair ofopenings 23 therein which are spaced apart the same distance as the pins21 and are of a diameter to closely receive the pins 21 of a like unit13. It will be appreciated that the pins 20, 21 are received in theopenings 22, 23 respectively of like units assembled together in theform of a panel, as indicated in FIG. 2 in which the relative positionsof the units are shown, but in this figure the units have been shownslightly spaced from one another for more clearly showing the manner inwhich they are arranged to be assembled to form a panel.

In forming the register board 11, a U-shaped partial frame is assembledcomprising extruded aluminum strips 12a and 12b suitably joined toopposite ends of a yoke strip 120 and at right angles thereto. Thestrips have a face flange 12d and rearwardly extending side anges 12e,the rear edges of which have a lip 12f therealong. A board 11a of anysuitable material, such as wood or fibre board, is formed to be receivedin the frame and lie against the insides of flanges 12d, 12e. The board11a has a square yportion cut away at the lower right hand corner, asviewed in FIG. l, to accommodate the nine units 13 therein as isexplained presently. The units 13 may be assembled prior to theinsertion of the board into the frame and the bottom row of units restson a strip 24 lying on the bottom iiange 12e and abutting the insideflange 12d of the front frame 12C. The units 13 are positioned with thepins 20 engaged in openings 22 of the respective units thereabove, andpins 21 are engaged in the openings 23 in the sides 13d of the adjacentunits, respectively. Preferably, a filler strip, not shown, of suitabledimension may be inserted between the right hand sides of units 13 andthe inside of flange l12e of frame member 12b to hold the units inposition. Board 11a is then inserted in position in the frame with itsleft hand end edge and the lower edge against the side anges 12e andfront flanges 12d. The under side of the square opening in board 11a hasrecesses, not shown, for receiving the pins 20 of the upper row of units13. A back board 26 is then inserted at the rear of board 11a, the units13 and filler strip 24, and is held in place by the lips 12], of theframe members, 12a, 12b, 12e, the dimensions of the back board beingsuch as to engage or nearly engage all of the insides of the partialframe. Next, a capping strip 27 formed like strips 12a, 12b, 12C isattached across the top of the partial frame and is secured by screws 28(only one of which appears in the drawing) threaded into board 11a.Strip 27 includes a flange 27 extending downwardly across the top of thepanel and a lip 27b which extends downwardly across the rear of thepanel to retain the top edge of the back board 26 in place. If desired,the backs of the units 13 may be secured to back board 26 by suitableadhesive material.

When it is desired to indicate which doctor is in, the member 14 of theappropriate unit 13 is moved to its lower position wherein thedistinctive coloring at 18a is displayed through the opening 13b of theindividual units, otherwise the member 14 of each unit is in its upperposition in which the surface 19a has the same appearance as theremaining faces of the units.

It will be apparent that any number of lines and columns of units 13 canbe conveniently assembled with a minimum of skill and material toprovide a wide variety of indicator boards having individual indicatorswhich are easily manipulated for providing readily visible signals ormarkings.

It will be apparent that although but one form of the invention has beendisclosed herein, other modifications, adaptations and forms could beadopted all falling within the scope of the claims which follow.

I claim:

1. A `unit for forming an indicator board comprising, a box-likestructural unit having a rectangular front wall, said front wall havinga rectangular opening therein with opposite sides spaced substantiallyfrom and parallel to opposite side edges of said unit, a U-shaped togglemember in said unit having the yoke end thereof extending through saidopening, means pivoting the inner leg ends of said toggle member toopposite side walls of said unit whereby said yoke end is movable aboutsaid pivot means from one side of said opening to the other, a springinterconnecting the yoke of said toggle member and the wall of the unitopposite said yoke for urging said toggle member to one side or theother of said opening, and two flanges carried by said member and onopposite sides thereof and projecting in the directions of movement ofsaid member whereby one of said panels is in registration with saidopening and the other is behind said front wall when said member is inone position and said other flange is in registration with said openingand the rst mentioned flange is behind said front wall when said memberis in the other of its positions.

2. A uni-t for forming an indicator comprising, a hollow box-like unithaving rectangular walls, one of Said walls having a rectangular openingtherein extending substantially entirely across said one wall and'having two opposite parallel edges spaced substantially from theparallel opposite edges of said one wall whereby rectangular wall panelsare provided on opposite sides of said opening, a flat U-shaped togglemember pivoted in said unit and having the yoke end extending throughsaid opening and engageable with opposite edges of said opening whensaid member is shifted from one side to the other thereof, meanspivoting the free ends of the legs of said U-shaped member to oppositeside walls of said unit, a tension spring connected at one end to theyoke of said member and the opposite end connected to rear wall of saidunit so that the line of force of said spring shifts from one side ofthe centerline of said toggle member to the other when said member ismoved from one edge to the other of said opening, and two anges carriedby said member and disposed on opposite sides thereof and adapted toalternately lie behind said panels of said front wall and whereby one ofsaid flanges is in registration with said opening while the other isbehind one of said wall panels when said member is in one of itspositions and said other flange is in registration with said opening andthe tirst mentioned flange is behind the other of said wall panels whensaid .member is in the other of its positions.

3. A unit forming an indicator comprising, a body having -a rear walland two spaced opposite side walls eX- tending forwardly from said rearwall, said body having an open front side between the forward edges ofsaid side walls, a toggle member having spaced opposite side portionsextending alongside the insides of said side walls respectively, pivotmeans pivotally supporting said side portions of said toggle member tothe respective adjacent side wall and on `a common axis, said togglemember having two indicator surfaces extending between said sideportions and having a common edge from which said surfaces extend atless than a straight angle relative to one another and presenting twoalternate indicia surfaces extending across said open front side of saidbody, means to limit movement of said toggle member about said pivotmeans between two positions, one of said indicator surfaces facingforwardly and exposed in said open side of said body when said togglemember is in one of said positions and the other `of said surfacesfacing forwardly and exposed in said open side of said body when saidend to said rear wall of said body intermediate the top an-d bottomedges thereof to yieldingly urge said toggle member to one or the otherof said two positions.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,804,706 9/1957 Sandri 2,814,89312/ 1957 Aiken FOREIGN PATENTS 733,148 7/1955 Great Britain.

EUGENE R. CAPOZIO, Prmmy Examiner.

W. J. CONTRERAS, Assistant Examiner.

1. A UNIT FOR FORMING AN INDICATOR BOARD COMPRISING, A BOX-LIKESTRUCTURAL UNIT HAVING A RECTANGULAR FRONT WALL, SAID FRONT WALL HAVINGA RECTANGULAR OPENING THEREIN WITH OPPOSITE SIDES SPACED SUBSTANTIALLYFROM AND PARALLEL TO OPPOSITE SIDE EDGES OF SAID UNIT, A U-SHAPED TOGGLEMEMBER IN SAID UNIT HAVING THE YOKE END THEREOF EXTENDING THROUGH SAIDOPENING, MEANS PIVOTING THE INNER LEG ENDS OF SAID TOGGLE MEMBER TOOPPOSITE SIDE WALLS OF SAID UNIT WHEREBY SAID YOKE END IS MOVABLE ABOUTSAID PIVOT MEANS FROM ONE SIDE OF SAID OPENING TO THE OTHER, A SPRINGINTERCONNECTING THE YOKE OF SAID TOGGLE MEMBER AND THE WALL OF THE UNITOPPOSITE SAID YOKE FOR URGING SAID TOGGLE MEMBER TO ONE SIDE OR THEOTHER OF SAID OPENING, AND TWO FLANGES CARRIED BY SAID MEMBER AND ONOPPOSITE SIDES THEREOF AND PROJECTING IN THE DIRECTIONS OF MOVEMENT OFSAID MEMBER WHEREBY ONE OF SAID PANELS IS IN REGISTRATION WITH SAIDOPENING AND THE OTHER IS BEHIND SAID FRONT WALL WHEN SAID MEMBER IS INONE POSITION AND SAID OTHER FLANGE IS IN REGISTRATION WITH SAID OPENINGAND THE FIRST MENTIONED FLANGE IS BEHIND SAID FRONT WALL WHEN SAIDMEMBER IS IN THE OTHER OF ITS POSITIONS.